Sexual Reproduction of Coral: An Opportunity and Challenge in Marine Biology Researches in Indonesia

Artikel ini berupa ulasan dan telah diterbitkan di Jurnal Hayati Vol 9 No. 2 tahun 2002Indonesia is considered as one of the centers of coral distribution in Indo-Pacific and the highest coral species richness in the world. In Kepulauan Seribu there have been noted 56 genera containing 193 species. Two hundreds and twenty five species belonging to 61 genera were also recorded in Nusa Tenggara. While in Taka Bonerate (South Sulawesi), a total of 198 coral species was known to belong to 68 genera. So far, the number of Acropora species that has been recorded was 91. However, just a few of the coral species has been known in detail for its sexual reproduction. This situation showed that the data on coral sexual reproduction aspects are too little and give widely opportunity and challenge marine biologist to study on coral reproduction. Data on sexual reproduction is very important to manage and utilize of coral resources. Therefore, we have to develop hatchery that could provide result larvae either for cultivation or management and conservation of coral reef by restocking and rehabilitation (coral transplantation